Enlightened (Red Flags) (6 page)

Walking on the dark marble floor, my heels clanked along loudly.  I was immersed in a sea of people, all moving to and fro, but it seemed that the noise from my heels was magnified tenfold.  The walls were decorated in all sorts of sports memorabilia, with some Padres, Chargers, and amateur sports figures gracing the walls in what one would consider to be personal shrines.  The athletes chosen to serve as representatives for their respective teams were placed on pedestals.  That was evident just from the remarkable amount of wall space they took up. 

I made my way to the elevators and hit the up button.  A small group of impeccably dressed men and women were waiting, making small talk about different sports teams and figures.  I scurried into the elevator and made my way to the back right corner.  I hit the button for the fifth floor before I settled in. The higher the elevator climbed, the higher my stomach rose.  The earlier anxiety felt in my car had crept back in with a vengeance. I was afraid of stepping out to meet Mr. Rolston. 

"Good luck to whoever he pulls in on his team," the young, leggy blond laughed to her equally leggy brunette friend.  A quick thought had me believing that I was going to be that new person on his team and the thought petrified me.  Tyrants were not the type of people that I wanted to be around, and working for one would prove to be extremely challenging.

Stopping on the fourth floor, the elevator emptied, and I was briefly left to my own narcissistic thoughts.  I pictured Mr. Rolston as an older white gentleman with dark, greying hair, and a pudgy mid-section.  I imagined a permanent scowl being spread across his face, with dark, calculating eyes.  If I had to imagine a tyrant, this is what I envisioned one to be. 

After I finished my imaginative thoughts, I dusted off my clothes as I ascended to the fifth floor.  I gripped my briefcase just a little tighter as I awaited the arrival to my new work space.  When the doors opened, I felt like I had somehow been teleported to the NYSE instead of the fifth floor of a marketing company.  I stopped in the doorway of the elevator and took in the chaotic scene.  There were bright lights and bustling people everywhere.  A young woman bumped into me on the way into the elevator, breaking me from my reverie.  I swallowed a hard lump that had lodged in my throat and proceeded to the fifth floor reception desk.

"Are you Cara Pinkston?"  A short and curvaceous, pixie cut blonde asked me.  I put my hand to my chest, gesturing to my myself as if I weren't aware of who the woman was referring to.  "Yes, you," she added adamantly.

"Yes I am," I croaked out, obviously overwhelmed by the sudden shock in the change of environments.  I felt like I had just left the lukewarm comforts of bed and was now grasping for life in the lion's den.

"Well, come with me.  Mr. Rolston has been waiting for you." Her tone was rushed, but not full of agitation like Miss Receptionist from the first floor.

I checked the clock hanging on the wall, just above a picture of Qualcomm Stadium.  I wasn't late. In fact, I was about five minutes early.  Amanda's hurried treatment had me believing even more in my imaginative figure of Mr. Rolston, only this time, I imagined frequent scoldings and wage withholding into his repertoire. 

"I'm Amanda, by the way.  Executive Assistant to Mr. Rolston.  You'll be seeing a whole lot of me.  How was your meeting with Sunny?"

I looked at her in awe of her demeanor.  She was so calm and collected for such a high volume environment, yet by the way she was ushering me over to two large double doors, she was under an enormous amount of stress from her boss.  "Um, Sunny?"  I asked, unsure of who she was referring to.

"Your first check-in down on the first floor," she chimed in, not missing a beat.

"Oh, she was okay."  Amanda looked over to me and smiled. I became a bit uneasy.

"Sunny was Sunny, I presume."  She shook her head. "Don't worry about her--she doesn't love too many people.  You're not special." The sly curvature of her lips instantly made me warm to her, and for the first time since entering the building, I felt my chest relax and my heart beat to a steady and healthy rhythm.

Amanda knocked twice on the large, black double doors and then twisted the knob and led me inside.  Mr. Rolston's office was a pleasant surprise.  I thought he would have dark colors to match his presumed dark mood, but his office had an eclectic, ocean feel to it.  It embodied San Diego to the fullest.  The panoramic photos of the San Diego bay, waves crashing against the rocks, and the trees that line Balboa Park were on full display. His large, white desk had papers stacked in neat piles.  As Amanda walked further in, she swiftly grabbed a large stack and placed them behind her back.  I made a mental note to ask her about that later.

The biggest shock of the moment was not the office space, or the décor.  Each of which were equally impressive, but nothing compared to Mr. Rolston himself.  The sour faced old troll I had pictured was nowhere to be found.  Shame splashed my face as I took in the tall, beautiful specimen standing before me.  Mr. Rolston stood an impressive and intimidating six foot two and looked like he had stepped off both an athletic field and runway at the same time.  His stocky frame made me want to run my fingers over his bulging pectorals that were clinging to his white linen button up shirt.  I ran my eyes up and down his large, enticing body, and while I loved everything I saw, his face was a sight for sore eyes. 

Mr. Rolston's light brown skin was framed by very thin and well-kept sideburns that traced down to a very meticulous goatee.  He looked me in my eyes, sending them pummeling down to my feet, and reached his hand out for mine.

"Hello, Cara.  I've been expecting you," he said.  My breathing picked up and I felt a chill hit my now sweat coated cheeks.  I shouldn't have been ogling my new boss, but honestly, he was ridiculously good-looking, and I wasn't sure how I would make it through my days having to work so closely with him. 

I threw my limp hand out to him, and he took it into this his own.

  "Hello, Mr. Rolston," I managed to murmur.  Amanda nudged me with her elbow.

"William is fine," he said, with a deep voice that could melt chocolate.  "We will be working close together, so I think a first name basis is the way to go."  His smile was panty wetting, but I remained composed and simply nodded my head.

"If you don't need anything else, Mr. Rolston, I'll be on my way," Amanda chimed in, smiling at the two of us then turning and walking out of the office.

I watched her leave, and secretly longed for her to return.  There was nothing predatory about William, but I didn't trust myself to focus where he was concerned.  This could turn into a real problem for my long term employment goals.

"So, Cara, what did Amanda fill you in on?"  I looked into his light brown eyes and smiled a real genuine smile.

"Not much.  She whisked me away in here before she was able to tell me anything."  He nodded his head in approval, as if Amanda had passed some sort of test.  He walked around to take a seat in his chair and lounged back, easing me into comfort.

"We just picked up a very large marketing account for an amateur basketball team.  I know it doesn't sound like much, but this is a million dollar campaign.  You are going to work with me on this campaign and as it takes off, I will hand more and more of the reigns over to you.  I need you to be punctual, professional, lenient with your time, and free flowing with your opinions.  The upper management picked you and a couple others, but told me
you
were best for my team."  His laid back demeanor, juxtaposed with the rigidity of his words, told me he meant business.  "Are you up for the challenge?"

"Yes.  I'm very ready, but I thought I would be going through orientation today?"

"You are.  I just wanted to run this by you and hand some of the documents to you so that you can familiarize yourself with the team and the campaign."  He scooted his chair up to his desk and pressed a button on his office telephone.  A few seconds later, Amanda was knocking and making her way into his office.

"Yes, Mr. Rolston?" she pronounced, stopping just shy of where I was standing.

"Please take Cara to HR.  They are expecting her for orientation."  He stood and shook my hand.  I shook his, feeling much stronger than when I had first entered his office and fumbled with myself like a love struck teenager.   

"Yes, sir," Amanda said.  I turned with the documents in hand, and walked out of the office with Amanda.  We walked leisurely to the elevators.  After pressing the up button she asked, "So what did you think of Mr. Rolston?" 

My newfound crimson complexion told her all she needed to know because she laughed wildly and threw her head back while saying, "He has that effect on women.  Don't be shy about it.  I would think you were weird if you didn't have that reaction." 

"How long have you worked for him?" I asked, curious as to how long she'd had the pleasure of coming to work every day to look at such an impressive man.

"Four years now.  Best damn job I've ever had." 

"How do you stay focused?"  I blurted out before thinking. 

Amanda laughed again.  "Mr. Rolston is all business.  He's awesome eye candy, but working with him is an experience all its own.  I've learned so much about this business from him, and I'm just his assistant.  I think it's his competence that is the best thing about him--you'll learn that.  Plus, my husband wouldn't be too happy if I left him for Mr. Rolston."  She laughed again as we walked into the elevator.

Amanda was incredibly welcoming and her quick wit made me feel like I had known her for a lifetime.

"How old is he?  I was expecting a grouchy old man."

"The tyrant, right?"  She looked over to me and smiled. "People say that because he is very demanding.  They've never worked for him so they go by what they see.  He demands punctuality, professionalism, leniency with your time, and the free flowing of your opinions."  She had just spouted his mantra that he had given me not even ten minutes ago.  "And he is thirty-five, so no--you don't get the grouchy old man."

"Wow.  I'm impressed.  I think I'm going to like it here," I retorted, now feeling like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

"Do you have a boyfriend or anything?"  Amanda asked, and I was a bit startled by the forthrightness of her question.

"Um…no.  I did, but we broke up."

"Well, that might be good.  Mr. Rolston will have you quite busy breaking you in to this business, and a boyfriend won't really understand." 

We stridently walked towards the HR department up on the fifteenth floor, and unpleasant thoughts of Jason not understanding my work commitments filled my head.  It seemed like affirmation that I took to this new job as a single girl.  After meeting William and Amanda, I knew I would have to keep a clear head in order to do well.

<>

My time in orientation went by rather slowly. I spent more of my time browsing the documents that William had supplied me with earlier that morning than actually listening to the speakers speaking and videos being played.  I learned that the team was an amateur basketball team, trying to break into the semi-professional world of sports.  The benefactor was not listed, however, there was a footnote stating that the official announcement would be made at the marketing campaign party.  I thought about the elbow rubbing that I would be partaking in, and while I never thought this would be me, I relished the idea of being pulled out of my comfort zone.

I spent my lunch in the orientation room.  Having lunch provided was welcomed, which gave me more time to dive into the documents detailing my new assignment.  I was excited to work with such seasoned professionals, and learn all that I could.

By 4pm, my day had come to an end.  I ran into Amanda as I walked out of my office and into the lobby.  We strolled past a still sour faced Sunny on our way out to the parking lot.

"What's the deal with Sunny?  Why is she here if she hates her job so much?" 

"Sunny doesn't hate her job, Sunny hates you. Well, temporarily anyway."

"Huh?"  I asked, unsure what she meant by that.

"Sunny and Mr. Rolston have a thing.  It's nothing serious.  He doesn't want it to be and she is desperate enough to just take what he gives her.  She knows since they aren't exclusive--he can and does turn his head to other women from time to time."

"Wait, so she thinks I want him?  He's my boss."

"I wouldn't put too much thought into her.  She'll feel you out for a while and then she'll drop it.  I had to tell her that, while Mr. Rolston is a beautiful piece of ass, I am happily married, so she could put her claws back in. He definitely woos other women. She just doesn't know who they are." 

I took all of this information in.  Amanda was right--William Rolston
was
a beautiful piece of ass. However, he was too old for me
and
was my boss.  I wasn't going to let Sunny ruin the newfound happiness in my life.

<>

Strolling into my empty condo, I bypassed the roses that Jason had sent for me.  Besides the brief thought of an angry outburst from him, he hadn't been consuming my thoughts and I was thankful for it. 

I took a long, soothing bath while relaxing to some slow, instrumental jazz.  The aroma of jasmine from the bubble bath and vanilla from the flickering candles relaxed me.  I lay back and fell asleep into a state of euphoria.

Just as I was getting out of the tub and drying myself off, my phone rang.   I checked the caller ID and found Chelsea calling me, so I immediately answered it.

"Hello, Miss Bride to Be!" I shouted.

"Well hello to you, too.  What's got you so damn happy?"  She retorted with playfulness in her tone.

"Oh, nothing.  I started work today and I fucking love it."

"Wow.  Must be some damn job.  Do tell."

I laughed as I went into my ridiculously long tale about the bitchy receptionist who thought I wanted the man who wanted to do nothing but sleep with her.  I also told her that the incredibly good looking man also happened to be my boss. While he was orgasm inducing, he was also very professional.